POAG EXECUTIVE MINUTES - August 2003:            

The Executive Committee of the Peace Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc. held a meeting at 4 P. M., August 22, 2003, at the Jekyll Inn, Jekyll Island, Georgia.  Committee members attending included President Harry Colbert, III, Vice President Homer Bryson, Board Members Keith Moran and Gary Hill, Secretary-Treasurer John Conley,  Legislative Chairman Bob Brown, Attorney Frank Childs, Public Relations Director Jimmy Jones, Chaplain Rick Lanford and Executive Director Marion Conley.  Chaplain Jimmy Waters was unable to attend. Visitors included Ken Suddeth, Geriann Colbert, Billy and Pat Stone, Morgan and Joyce Key, Jennifer Phillips, Bill Hitchens, and Jimmy Sims. 

The meeting was called to order and a welcome given all in attendance by President Colbert.  Chaplain Rick Lanford read the scripture and gave the invocation.  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Colbert. 

A motion was made by Bob Brown, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to approve the minutes and financial report from July, 2003.   

Amy Rabon and Michelle Blackstone from Jekyll Inn were present to thoroughly go over the convention program and inform all of the location of the various convention activities.  The Committee and all present had a more thorough picture of the entire convention after this discussion.  The Committee decided to feed 50 at the Old Timers Breakfast a meal of fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage and grits for $7.95 a plate.  The Committee decided that 35 plates for the Ladies Auxiliary meals Monday and Tuesday would probably be sufficient.  The ladies’ Monday meal will cost $6.50 a plate and the Tuesday meal will cost $l2.95 a plate. 

The September meeting was set for Saturday, September 20, 2003, 4 P. M., Crane Room, Jekyll Inn, Jekyll Island. 

The in-service training was discussed with the need for the C-12’s being passed out and picked up a matter of concern.  The Committee wanted to make sure that all POST requirements were met in the manner in which these forms are completed and returned.  It was decided to pass these forms out the last thirty minutes of Dr. Smith’s Monday afternoon talk.  Since the talk is four hours long, it was decided not to allow any new person in the room after 40 minutes into Dr. Smith’s talk.  Gary Hill is diligently working on the means of getting Dr. Smith to and from the Jacksonville airport .  He feels this can be worked out.  

The applications for the first ever Jimmy Water’s scholarship fund were reviewed.  Subsequently, Bob Brown made a motion, which was seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to give the first scholarship to Laura Emily Danneman, stepdaughter of POAG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Member Billy Ray Blocker, Jr. 

            Marion Conley relayed to the Committee a concern Past President Charles Sikes had concerning the HOPE Scholarship and the scholarship for dependents of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.  An article had appeared that morning in the Savannah Morning News on the HOPE scholarship.  We were not clear on whether the article was possibly doing away with the scholarship for dependents of public safety officers killed in the line of duty, but this we did not want to occur.  Bob Brown volunteered to take the article and investigate the meaning of the same.  If necessary, it was decided to sponsor a resolution at the convention in support of continuing the scholarship for dependents of public safety officers killed in the line of duty and make sure there was no grade point average tied to this scholarship.   It was the feeling of all that these dependents should receive these funds as long as they are passing and not have to maintain the B average connected with the HOPE scholarship. 

            Meals for the simulator instructors were discussed.  A motion was made by John Conley, seconded by Bob Brown and passed to furnish these meals if the Department of Public Safety was unable to do so. 

            Bob Brown made a motion, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed authorizing Secretary-Treasurer John Conley to pay all convention expenses.   

            A motion was made by Keith Moran, seconded by John Conley and passed to give as prizes to the Blue Knight riders three XL shirts and three caps.  A motion was made by Bob Brown and seconded by Homer Bryson to allow the National Sheriff’s Office Employees organization free vendor space at the convention.  This motion passed. 

            John Conley made a motion, seconded by Homer Bryson and passed to adjourn the meeting.  Accordingly, the meeting was adjourned.